An Abu Dhabi woman who lost Dh734,000 ($200,000) in a trading scam five years ago remains a target for scammers, highlighting the persistence and evolving tactics used by online fraudsters. The woman's ordeal began in 2019, after being lured by a Facebook advertisement for a now-defunct trading platform, UFX.com. Despite losing a substantial sum and refusing further investments, scammers continued to contact her years later under different guises, pressuring her to reactivate accounts on supposedly new platforms.
The Initial Scam
The woman, a Jordanian IT manager, shared that after expressing interest, she was contacted by an agent from Bahrain, who requested her personal documents. Despite initial doubts, multiple calls from a "documentation department" lent an air of legitimacy. She proceeded to deposit $50,000 and initially saw apparent returns, which led her to invest more. Over time, however, the transactions resulted in devastating losses. Despite her attempts to withdraw, agents pressured her to continue investing.
Persistence of Scammers
Though the original scam concluded years ago, agents have persistently called the woman with new schemes. Most recently, they claimed that her UFX account was transferred to a platform called “Amana,” providing her with credentials to log in to a fake “Noor Capital” site. Despite her awareness of the deceit, the persistence of these callers underscores the lengths to which scammers will go to re-engage past victims.
Lt-Col Ali Al Nuaimi of Abu Dhabi Police notes that scammers often recycle the names and logos of reputable companies to instill trust, with schemes designed to show small initial profits, encouraging larger investments.
Scammers Impersonating Authorities
In a separate case, Serbian fitness trainer Goran Jovanovic fell victim to scammers impersonating Dubai Police. The imposters convinced him to share an OTP (one-time password) under the guise of securing his identity, resulting in a Dh2,500 theft from his bank account. Lt-Col Al Nuaimi noted that such impersonations are rare but warned that scammers continually adopt new strategies to deceive unsuspecting individuals.
Key Takeaways and Advice
The persistence of these scammers serves as a cautionary reminder. Abu Dhabi Police advises that no legitimate entity will ask for sensitive information, such as an OTP, over the phone. Citizens are encouraged to verify credentials and report suspicious calls to authorities immediately.
